Use items around your house to make fun things!
Always ask your parent or carer before you do these. It can be even more fun if they join in!
Make a Bird Feeder
Make Salt Dough Ornaments
Make Puffy Paint
Make a Wind Catcher
Pressed Flower Book Marker
Painted Rocks
Toilet Roll Bug Craft
Mother's Day Mobile
This is simple and fun activity the whole family can take part in, you can place your bird feeder in your garden or go on a family adventure and place it in your local park or woods.
This activity will show you step by step how to make a simple bird feeder with your child. When you’ve finished making your bird feeder hang it up outside and watch to see who comes to visit. Try and name all the different species of birds that visit.
What you need:
- Bird feed
- Peanut butter
- Empty toilet roll holder
- Knife
- Tray to roll bird feed
- Rope/string
Instructions
- Fill tray with bird feed
- Spread Peanut butter over toilet roll holder
- Roll toilet roll holder in bird feed
- Attach rope to toilet roll holder
- Hang outside to feed the birds
A fun activity that all the family will enjoy. There is nothing more meaningful than a gift from a child that has been homemade. A favourite across many generations is salt-dough ornaments.
This is simple and easy to make dough that can be made using just 3 ingredients. Once the dough is made you and your child can be as creative as you want to be in whatever your chosen design, once fully dried you can then paint your creations.
What you need:
- 1 cup of Salt
- 1 cup of Flour
- Water
- Mixing bowl
- Cutting tool/dough cutter
- Baking tray
Instructions:
- Preheat oven at 50 degrees
- Mix the Salt and Flour in the bowl
- Add water little by little and mix until mixture becomes doughy
- Take out of bowl and Squash it until its flatter
- Make shapes and place them on a baking tray
- Ask a grown up to place them in the oven to cook
- Once cooked leave overnight to cool
- Then paint and decorate them
This is simple and fun activity the whole family can take part in, it can be done indoors on a wet and rainy day or it can be taken outside to be done in the summer.
This activity will show you step by step how to create Puffy Paint with your child that you can be as creative and imaginative as you want it to be while creating your masterpieces.
What you need:
- PVA glue
- Shaving foam
- Plastic cups/containers
- Paint brushes
- Paper
Instructions:
- Take plastic cup, pour some PVA glue into the cup, add shaving foam and a few drops of food colouring of your choice.
- Mix together well.
- Repeat the above actions and create different colours of puffy paint.
- Create a picture of your choice.
This activity is a great way for you and your child to go a nature walk and collect flowers and leaves, once you have done the walk you can then create your wind catcher using the flowers and leaves you have collected, follow the step-by-step instructions to create your wind catcher and watch as blows in the wind. These flower windcatchers are really simple to create, the whole family can take part in this activity.
What you need:
- Paper Plate or Cardboard box
- Sticky tape
- Flowers
- String
- Clear bag
Instructions:
- Cut out the middle of the paper plate or cardboard box
- Fill bag with flowers
- Tape bag to the plate
- Cut out two circles from a cardboard box
- Cut hole in the middle
- Tape over the middle
- Create a flower collage on the sticky surface
- Repeat and stick together
- Create hole to attach string
- Hang and display
Materials:
- Fresh flowers and/or leaves (thin and small ones work best)
- Paper for pressing (white tissue paper, blotting paper, waxed paper or parchment paper)
- Heavy books or a flower press
- Contact paper (clear self-adhesive)
- Scissors
- Card
- Hole punch
- Ribbon or yarn
Instructions:
- Collect a selection of flowers and leaves: (Make sure they are small and thin, as thicker flowers may not press as well)
- Place each flower or leaf between two sheets of paper (Make sure they lie flat and don't overlap)
- Place the flower or leaf within the pieces of paper in between the pages of a heavy book, (like an encyclopedia or a large textbook)
- Close the book and then place more heavy books or weights on top. (Let them press for at least one week)
- Cut two pieces of contact paper for each bookmark. (About 3 inches wide by 7 inches long)
- Remove the backing of one piece of contact paper and lay it on a flat surface, sticky side up. (Leave an extra inch so you can do a final trim at the end)
- It’s now time to assemble the bookmarks by arrange your pressed flowers and leaves on the sticky side of the contact paper. (Make sure to leave a border around the edges, so the contact paper can seal properly.)
- Seal the bookmarks: Carefully remove the backing of the second piece of contact paper and place it sticky side down onto the first piece, making sure to align the edges.
- Press down firmly, smoothing out any air bubbles and sealing the flowers and leaves inside.
- Trim the edges of the bookmark to create a clean and even border around the flowers and leaves. (Be careful not to cut too close to the flowers, as this may cause the contact paper to come apart.)
- Using a hole punch to create a hole at the top of the bookmark. Thread a piece of ribbon or yarn through the hole and tie it in a knot or bow for a decorative touch.
Materials
- Rocks: (Try to find a variety of sizes and shapes. The smoother the surface, the easier it will be to paint.)
- A variety of coloured acrylic paints
- Different size paint brushes
- Palette or Mixing Tray
- Water and Cloth: (For cleaning the brushes between colours)
- Newspaper or a plastic tablecloth (To protect your working surface)
- Painting Apron or Old Clothes: (To protect against paint splashes)
- Clear Sealant (Optional)
Instructions
- Find Your Rocks: (Remember, the smoother the surface, the easier it will be to paint)
- Prepare Your Rocks: (Once you've collected your rocks, it's time to clean them. Wash with warm soapy water and scrub off any dirt or moss. Allow them to dry completely before you start painting.)
- Set Up Your Space: (Cover your working surface with newspapers or a plastic tablecloth. Lay out your paints, brushes, water, and cloth. Don't forget to put on your painting apron or old clothes to protect against any paint spills)
- Sketch Your Design (Optional): (If you prefer, you can lightly sketch your design onto the rock using a pencil. This step isn't necessary, but it can be helpful for complex designs)
- Start Painting (Dip your brush into the paint and start bringing your design to life. You can paint a solid base colour first or start directly with the design)
- Let It Dry (Allow your rock to dry completely before adding any additional details or layers of paint. This will prevent the colours from smearing together)
- Add Details (Use smaller brushes to add details, highlights, or outlines to your design. Remember to let each layer dry before adding the next)
- Seal Your Rock (Optional, but highly recommended) I(f you want your rock to withstand the elements outdoors, apply a clear sealant or mod podge. Allow it to dry completely before handling.)
Ideas for Designs
- Animals: Paint your favourite animals on the rocks. Ladybugs, bees, and cats.
- Nature: Paint nature such as flowers, leaves, trees.
- Patterns: Simple shapes and patterns like stripes, dots, and swirls.
- Cartoon Characters and faces: Your favourite character from books, movies, or TV shows.
- Galaxy: Create a mini universe by painting your rocks to look like a galaxy.
- Emoji Rocks: Paint rocks to look like popular emojis.
Equipment:
- Toilet paper roll or cardboard tube
- Plain card
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pipe cleaners / tissue paper
- And something to color with
Instructions:
- On a piece of card design the pieces of your bug you are going to create…(maybe spots for a lady bird or wings for a butterfly)
- Colour in the pieces and then carefully cut them out (you may need adult assistance with this)
- Glue the pieces you have designed into place onto the toilet paper roll. (If the toilet paper roll is too big then you can always cut it down a bit)
- Now colour is or stick other things you need onto your bug (maybe use pipe cleaners for ears, whiskers or a tail or tissue paper for Its nose…)
Materials:
- Paper
- Scissors
- Something to colour with
- Glue
- Gems or glitter
- Hole punch
- String, thread, ribbon, or wool
- Thin cardboard
Instructions:
Mother’s Day Sign:
On 1 thin piece of card draw a cloud shape, which is going to be your Happy Mother’s Day Sign… (this needs to be the full size of the card)
- In the cloud shape design and decorate your ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ message (why not use your mams favourite colours and jewels)
- Then punch one hole at the top of the sign and thread though some ribbon, string, or thread. (This is so that the mobile can be hung up)
- Then punch three holes in the bottom of the Happy Mother's Day sign. (This is so that your love heart messages can be attached)
Mother’s Day Love Heart Messages
- On pieces of thin card, draw 3 love heart shapes and write some lovely things you want to say to your mother. (The love hearts need to be as big as a toy tea-set plate)
- Carefully cut out the love-heart shapes.
- Colour in and decorate (around your messages) the love hearts in your mam’s favourite colours.
- Glue a piece of ribbon, string, or thread to the back of your 3 love hearts.
- Thread the piece of ribbon string or thread through the 3 punched holes in your ‘Happy Mother’s Day design and tie tightly.